As always, Top Ten Tuesday meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is: “Ten Books I Loved More/Less Than I Thought I Would”. Here are recent reads I never expected to like as much as I did:

The Demonata series by Darren Shan

“There’s something different about you,” he says.
“I’ve started styling my hair differently,” I laugh.
“Oh. I thought it was that you were three feet taller, a hell of a lot broader, look like a werewolf, and are naked expect for that bit of cloth around your waist. But you’re right – it’s the hair.”
― Darren Shan, Wolf Island

The Demonata is a series of books by best selling author Darren Shan. It deals with the world of demons. I’m still reading the last books of this series but I very warmly recommend these books to fans of Cirque du Freak and fans of horror. By the way, I really like the cover art of these, they’re odd in a way but very fitting.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

“Know what?”
“I didn’t you see. I thought trees stood up straight… I only found out just now. They actually stand with both arms in the earth, all of them. Look, look, over there, aren’t you surprised? Yeong-hye sprang up and pointed to the window. “All of them, they’re all standing on their heads.”
― Han Kang, The Vegetarian

The Vegetarian is a South Korean three-part drama novella written by Han Kang and first published in 2007. Based on Kang’s 1997 short story “The Fruit of My Woman”, The Vegetarian is set in modern-day Seoul and tells the story of Yeong-hye, a home-maker, whose decision to stop eating meat after a bloody, nightmarish dream about human cruelty leads to devastating consequences in her personal and familial life.

Very decent kind of a book. I don’t know how to sum it up, so I won’t. I think the Vegetarian beautifully describes madness and the state of mind and how dreams indeed can be very dangerous things. The Vegetarian is beautifully written, absolutely extraordinary story. I thought I was dreaming when Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama was mentioned. Her obsessive and maddening dots were just perfect for this.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

“In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them…. I destroy them.”
― Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Game

Ender’s Game is a 1985 military science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set in Earth’s future, the novel presents an imperiled mankind after two conflicts with the “buggers”, an insectoid alien species. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Also, I think the topic is very good, what if we find extraterrestial life and this would happen? And the ending blew me away…

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

“Stories don’t always have happy endings.”
This stopped him. Because they didn’t, did they? That’s one thing the monster had definitely taught him. Stories were wild, wild animals and went off in directions you couldn’t expect.”
― Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls is a novel written for children by Patrick Ness, from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, illustrated by Jim Kay, and published in 2011. It features a boy who struggles to cope with the consequences of his mother’s terminal cancer; he is repeatedly visited in the middle of the night by a monster who tells stories. Dowd was terminally ill with cancer herself when she started the story and died before she could write it… Oh the amount of tears I cried while reading this. Still one of the best books I’ve ever read. And Kay’s illustrations are just stunning.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

“Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.”
― Marissa Meyer, Cinder

The Lunar Chronicles is a tetralogy of young adult fantasy novels written by American author Marissa Meyer. Each book entails a new take on an old fairy tale, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White. The story takes place in a futuristic world where humans, cyborgs, androids, and a race of moon colonists all coexist. Sounds like a fantasy lovers dream come true right?

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

“Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.”
― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

At the heart of Catch-22 resides the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero endlessly inventive in his schemes to save his skin from the horrible chances of war.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

“Why must you look like the rest of us? Why do you have to be the one to change? Change the way we see. Don’t change the way you are.”
― Tahereh Mafi, Furthermore

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. Furthermore is an absolutely fantastic retelling of Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

“Rhysand stared at me for long enough that I faced him.
“Be glad of your human heart, Feyre. Pity those who don’t feel anything at all.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Reading this was pure ecstasy. After Throne of Glass series I wasn’t sure whether this would reach the same level. I needn’t have worried. ACOTAR had everything I want from fantasy novel: great characters (not to even mention all the fairie males…), marvellous world-building, magic, great dialogue between characters. A Court of Mist and Fury was just as good as this. How long do we still have to wait until ACOWAR comes out…

The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer

“You’ll make mistakes because it’s impossible to know what is or isn’t a mistake until it’s made.”
― Stephenie Meyer, The Chemist

Surprisingly good! This was by far the best Meyer book I have read. I never was a big fan of Twilight series but this was something completely different. I think Meyer should write more thrillers.

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

“I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.”
― Shonda Rhimes, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

Terribly funny, engaging & inspiring!
I love people who have a good sense of humor and who constantly make jokes about everything. So I loved this book! Shonda Rhimes is just amazing. She’s introvert and brutally honest about everything she does and what she thinks about.
I also didn’t expect this to be so humorous. If you have watched Shondaland shows: Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder you know what I’m talking about. Especially Grey’s Anatomy… How many times you have cried watching that?
& Be a doer, not a dreamer.

Sorry for a long post. Sorry no potato like in 9GAG. Pictures of books: my own/ Goodreads, Pinterest, Photobucket.

Happy TTT! Have you read these? What are the books that surprised you?

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19 thoughts on “Ten Books I Loved More Than I Thought I Would”

I agree entirely with both Ender’s Game and Catch-22. I picked up the former expecting a nice standard-issue sci-fi novel, and was surprised at its depth and sophistication. Catch-22 I picked up without any expectations, and now it is probably one of my favourite novels.

My thoughts exactly! I had read Alvin the Maker series by Orson Scott Card before reading Ender but it was fantasy, whereas this was science fiction. He wrote both very masterfully. Catch-22 was a shocker for me because at first the style seemed a bit odd and I didn’t expect to like a war book as much as I did.

There are a number of books on your list I could comment on but I am going to go with The Chemist. I think this is the first time I have seen someone who has actually read the book. I am so curious to pick it up. I loved The Host and I am so interested in seeing what she does with a different genre.

It just came out only a while ago I think. I think Meyer did good with the genre. I didn’t like Twilight series very much liked Host and liked The Chemist but I know many people who didn’t take it that well that she decided to switch genres.

Loved Ender’s Game! And I was surprised at how much I ended up loving the entire Lunar Chronicles series. I’ve been told to watch and read A Monster Calls, but I might have to wait for when I’m not already an emotional wreck half the time, lol!

Yeah! Both were just fantastic! :) Reading Lunar Chronicles made me so happy. I think it kind of helps with emotional wreckism, it will make you cry but kind of feel good about it too and sometimes that’s all you need :) … I’m one the talk when I’ve been putting off watching it for weeks!

Awww :D But I guess Throne of Glass series made it hard to beat. Yeah… I mean Cress was my favorite one out of all of them and that’s #3 but if you don’t like the series by then, then just skip the fourth book.